Tenancy Application Form

Tenancy Application Form- Download your FREE copy below!

What is a Tenancy Application Form?

It’s essentially a form which prospective tenants are asked to complete either before or during a viewing, but I personally recommend doing it before because it provides an early opportunity to dismiss unsuitable applicants.

Here is a list of details requested for in a tenancy application form:

Details about occupiers: details about all the people that will occupy the property

Other details: details such as smoking status, pet status

Why are Tenancy Application Forms useful?

If I have a vacant property which is receiving interest from several prospective tenants, I will have a neat list of all applicants with all their details. It makes it much easier to manage the applicants details.

The completed forms make it much easier to determine which applicant is most desirable, which will effectively help me choose the better tenant. For example, I can easily see which applicant has a greater salary and stronger rental history.

Some of the details on the Tenancy Application Form aren’t always found in Tenancy Agreements, but may be useful even after a tenancy has been created. For example, next of kin details maybe useful in case of an emergency.

Assuming the application form is completed before scheduling a viewing, it can quickly eliminate tenants from the queue if they don’t meet specific requirements e.g. lack of Guarantor. This saves a buttload of time!

You can build a directory of people to contact if a similar property becomes available. This is probably more useful for letting agents, or landlords with a portfolio of properties.

You can use the tenant’s employment and current/previous landlords details for references, to ensure they’re legitimate and have a good track record.

Completing Application forms before viewings

Almost all experienced landlords require applicants to complete a tenancy application form beforescheduling a viewing in order to quickly separate the wheat from the chaff, and they’ll usually do it in one of two ways:

Conduct a phone interview with all applicants. I say “interview” for the lack of a better word, but it’s usually just a friendly chat. You can can then run through the relevant questions over the phone and fill in the application yourself.

This is probably the most telling method, as you can tell so much by how someone conducts themselves on the phone.

Email each applicant the same tenancy application form, and get them to complete it.

Trust me, construct a screening process before you take viewings, and you’ll be surprised and overjoyed by how many idiots and unsuitables you nearly met.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with meeting every applicant and getting them to complete the form during the viewings, and that will certainly help with the process of elimination. However, it will certainly mean you’ll be more prone to mingling with a whole heap of time-wasters/unsuitable applicants.

Are Tenancy Application Forms legally required?

I want to clarify that Tenancy Application Forms are NOT legally required, although they make sense because of the points listed above.

Can I modify the Tenancy Application Form?

The application form can be tailored to a landlord’s preference. Landlords are entitled to ask prospective tenants any appropriate question that they see fit. However, I would advise to avoid asking too many questions, sticking to questions which has a direct relation to letting the property, and personal questions that may seem “too personal” Crossing those lines could act as a repellent.
I’ve seen a few Tenancy Application Forms which require bank details from the applicant. I’m not entirely convinced details like that are necessary at such early stages, so I removed that section. I know if I was a prospective tenant, I wouldn’t want to give up my bank details to a private landlord if I wasn’t even sure I wanted the property. However, I’d be more comfortable giving a letting agent those kind of details.

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Disclaimer: I'm just a simple landlord blogger, I am not qualified to give legal or financial advice. Any advice I give is my opinion based on my experience, and is never legal or professional advice. You should always get professional advice on any legal and financial matters!

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8 Comments- Join The Conversation...

YesAdam13th April, 2011 @ 15:47

Tenancy Application Forms have many uses.
(1) To compare potential tenants
(2) An directory of people to contact if its available again (or other properties).
(3) A quick reference instead of digging out Lease.

If we are sharing, here is one I created (a bit better no?):
http://yourletting.biz/documents-for-tenants/Tenants-Enquiry-Form.pdf

If you are going to apply for insurance from no rent payment, then you will need simular information to supply insurance company.

1

The Landlord13th April, 2011 @ 16:26

Hey YesAdam,

Yup, yours definitely looks better. Thanks for the link. However, some of the questions seem a bit too intrusive e.g. Passport number. Is something like that necessary? I usually just ask for proof of ID e.g. photo driving license.

I've added point #2 to the list :)

Many thanks.

2

YesAdam13th April, 2011 @ 16:38

A bit more pretty perhaps.
I have never asked for passport number people normally use national insurance number or provide Driving Licence number. I'd only ever presume it would be used via police in case of incident, as long as one of the three is recorded I am happy.

3

Lauren14th April, 2011 @ 07:50

I've always used them as I'm still a novice and was concerned I may miss something.

It's also a great way to find out gritty details without sounding to prying and it's nice to have a simple record of the tenants details etc!

4

The Landlord14th April, 2011 @ 09:44

Hey Lauren,

I definitely agree with the gritty details part- I think that's the main basis of its appeal to me :)

5

YesAdam14th April, 2011 @ 12:25

I was going trough documents sent to me via the "Residential Landlords Association" titled "10 Tips for Landlords".

At number one it says "Use a tenancy application form that requests details of the last 3 years residences, dob, nI and next of kin"

6

jane currie24th April, 2015 @ 10:36

Hi there, I have been a private landlord for 20 years. I am now introducing my son to work with me. This blog site with forms looks encouraging. thank you jane

7

Linda Whyborn20th September, 2016 @ 11:28

My tenant has, I think, vacated the property but he is coming back to let his cat out!!! Im in the process of doing an eviction order. He changed the locks on the flat, without my permission, and installed a cat, again without permission, and which is strictly forbidden by the Lease hold Landlord. He did not give me a set of keys, which I believe, by law he doesnt have to, so I cant enter the flat plus hes pulled all the blinds down so I can see in. He three months in arrears too. What can I do? Feel hes using the flat as a Cattery!!!

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